In the Thai countryside

This module provides an up close and personal experience of life in rural Thailand. It will give you the chance to get to know the Thai people, traditions, and countryside. You will stay with a family in the village of Kopet, deep within the sleepy Isaan province, discovering firsthand their warm-hearted hospitality and curiosity of foreigners. The next day you'll be taken by an English-speaking host(ess) to the nearby temple city of Phimai and introduced to all aspects of village life.

Duration	Three days / two nights	Accommodation	Two nights in a characteristic Thai house with the toilet and shower shared by other guests. Comfort level 2 (see accommodation).
Price	£105 per person - based on 2 people	Includes	Transport, accommodation with breakfast, 2 x dinners and an excursion with an English-speaking guide.
Travel	Return transfer from Sida to Kopet	Excludes	Travel to Sida. Drinks and other meals, excursions and entrance fees not listed in the daily itinerary.

Day 1: Arrival in Sida - Walking in Kopet

This module begins in Sida, four hours to the east of Bangkok. Your bus will arrive around 1pm, and you will be met by your host who will take you to Kopet (approx. 20 minutes). Kopet has only 800 inhabitants and you will be staying in a typical house on the edge of the village. Your English-speaking hostess will take you on a guided walk of the area. What you see will very much depend upon the time of year you visit, as different seasons support different crops and fruit trees. Livelihoods here change according to the season.

An Isaan farmer

The walk will also take you to the village temple, the local school and the Tree Garden, which is bursting with silkworms. You will be invited to take a look inside the house, where the silk is woven by a group of old women (in curlers). This work supplements their income through the dry season. Your hostess will act as interpreter and answer any questions you may have. It really is a fascinating glimpse into local life.

After the walk, you can enjoy the sunset from your veranda. The evening meal provided is traditionally Isaan and if you would like to be involved in the preparation you are welcome to give a helping hand. You will find your hostess, her mother and her sisters in the headily aromatic kitchen. You will eat with your family and then you will be invited to join any events that may be happening in the village. If you're lucky, you might get to go frog-hunting with the locals!

Day 2: Kopet, School Visit, and the Ruins of Phimai

You will start your day with breakfast on the verandah while the sun rises over the lake. After this, you will take a walk back to the school. Officially there are 127 schoolchildren, but in practice there are far fewer. When the school inspector visits, the children from all surrounding areas are assembled so that the school receives its grant. It is a great honour for the school to have foreign visitors and you will be asked to sign the visitors’ book. The inspectors will go through the visitors’ book and will consider a visit by a foreigner as confirmation that the school has been kept in good order. Feel free to look in the classrooms and ask the children about their lessons. School visits are only on Monday-Friday and the school is closed from March up to and including May, in October and on National holidays.

From the school, Jim, your host, will take you to the ruined city of Phimai, approx. hour away. Jim has a vast knowledge of the area and temples and will happily guide you through the enchanting ruins. Alternatively, you are very welcome to make your own way around the site and meet up with him afterwards.

During the Khmer period, Phimai was on the direct route to Angkor in Cambodia- the grand capital of the Khmer kingdom. The Khmer built their holy places in a very different style to that of the Thai ancestry. Khmer temples are dedicated to the Hindu gods and originated as early as the 9th century, long before Buddhism was introduced to Thailand.

The Hindu temples of the Khmer kingdom symbolise the Holy Mountain with their high towers. Later, Buddhist elements were added to the temples and sculptures, which still bear the ‘animal’ influence from centuries ago. The air is heavy with history, making Phimai a remarkably magical place to visit.

Day 3: Kopet - Departure from host family

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. This is sometimes a slow process as half of the village will come out to send you on your way. It is an old Isaan tradition to tie a ribbon to your wrist for good luck, so you can expect to begin the next stage of your journey with an arm full of ribbons.

The Khao Yai Jungle Trails module is a logical next step for your journey, and will enable you to spend the day amongst the exotic wildlife of Thailand's oldest national park. Alternatively, Jim can take you to Sida where you can head south to Bangkok.

If you are particularly interested in Khmer history, we would definitely recommend a visit Phanom Rung. This is built on a volcano and may be reached as a day trip from Sida or Kopet. Feel free to ask one of our travel specialists for details of this extension.

Your Home Away From Home

Jim is your friendly guide and host for this module. You will stay with him, his wife Lamai and his daughter Lizzy. He originates from Wales, but has been living in Thailand since 1999. There are three airy rooms each with a double bed, a fan and mosquito net. The bathroom has western facilities and is shared by the guests. There is a veranda surrounded by a huge garden with sun loungers and hammocks- a perfect chill out space. You will eat with the family and you are more than welcome to help out with the cooking if you wish. The family themselves live in a separate part of the house, and Jim asks for no payment or any gifts for them or the locals. If you wish to contribute to the community the best way to do so, is by buying their silk products. There is no bank, cash point or restaurant in the village and you are expected to pay for your own drinks during you stay, so make sure you take small denomination of Thai baht.

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